Over the past 18 years I’ve lived in the Lake Chapala area, I’ve interviewed hundreds of folks and answered thousands of questions. I thought it might help you if I included a few of the most oft-asked questions and answers here. If you have questions, send them in the “contact” section above and I’ll answer them. Remember, these are only short answers, only my opinions, and one answer never applies to everyone:
Q: Is it better to buy or rent?
A: I always advise folks who have come down for the first time to rent first for six months. It’s important to familiarize yourself with the various neighborhoods, decide whether village living with all of its conveniences and noise is better for you, whether you prefer a quieter, guarded neighborhood or something in between. The majority of homes are rented fully furnished, so you can leave your belongings north of the border while you test drive the Lakeside villages. This also gives you a chance to research real estate agents and familiarize yourself with sales prices.
Q: What is there to do all day?
A: This was the most oft-asked question when I first moved down here. Several years ago, I wrote an article with that same title. At that time there were 82 organized activities ranging from poker to orchid growing to volunteer work. There wasn’t a scrabble group, so I posted a notice on the Lake Chapala Society bulletin board and now there are scrabble groups which meet three times a week at the society, along with bridge, mah jong, yoga, tai chi and myriad other activities and events.
Q: What is the Lake Chapala Society?
A: It’s probably unique in the world. Begun nearly 60 years ago, the LCS is a non-profit organization which provides social and educational activities for the expat population as well as the Mexican population with classes ranging from computer science to language instruction (both Engish and Spanish) to art and line dancing. The grounds take up about 1-1/2 acres and include the largest English library outside of English-speaking countries, a video library, books on tape, coffee shop, information desk for newcomers and facilities for groups ranging from four to 400. The grounds are immaculate with professional landscaping, fish ponds and a large gazebo. Check out the LCS at http://www.lakechapalasociety.com/ and be sure to watch this five-minute video by Roy Nolan: http://www.ramblingroynolan.com/lcsvideo.
Q: What is the weather like?
A: The weather is one of the strongest draws to the Lake Chapala area. The climate is renowned and results from Lake Chapala’s warm waters which moderate the daily and seasonal temperature variations, from the surrounding mountain ranges, and from the mile-high elevation. There are basically two seasons: the rainy season from mid-June to late September and the dry season. Average annual temperatures range from 46°F to 68°F in December (the coldest month) and from 54°F to 90°F in May (the hottest month). The overall annual temperature is 69°F.
Q: What about crime?
A: Although the U.S. and Canadian press make out Mexico to be an unsafe place, my opinion is that they are fear mongering and trying to keep the retirement monies north of the border. In the Lake Chapala area, I have only known of seven gringo murders in the 18 years I’ve been here and all of them have been personal. We don’t have Mexicans shooting up our schools, movie theaters and fast food chains. The most frequent crime is simple theft which occurs anywhere there is a disparity between the haves and the have-nots. Even crime in the larger Mexican cities pales in comparison with crime rates in large cities north of the border. Expats here feel safe walking the streets.
Q: What about opportunities for culture?
A: That’s a two-part answer. Guadalajara is only an hour’s drive away and has all the culture available in any large city. Frequently, bus loads of people head to the city for opera, ballet and other special events such as Cirque du Soleil and performances by world-wide celebrities. In our own villages we are blessed with a little theater which is half a century old and rivals any little theater north of the border. The talent here is mind boggling. We have a beautiful auditorium, which draws music venues from the far corners of the earth and other small groups which produce lip-sync events, naked stage performances (the stage is naked, not the performers) and nightclub acts drawn from Puerto Vallarta.
Q: What about health insurance?
A: Whew, that’s a long answer. There are many insurance options for every budget—from Seguro Popular, provided by the government for free, to IMMS which is priced at less than $500 U.S. per year, to private insurance, which can run as much as $10,000 U.S. per year (all depending on age, deductibles and preexisting conditions). It makes sense to do a lot of research before making this decision. (A caveat: much of the information found on the internet is outdated). Medicare is not covered in Mexico. Some U.S. insurance providers will cover medical expenses in Mexico. Check with your own provider.
Q: What is the quality of health care?
A: We are fortunate to have several medical clinics and the Cruz Roja (Red Cross) with two emergency clinic locations at Lakeside. These facilities are prepared to handle non-life-threatening medical emergencies and will transport patients to the appropriate hospital in Guadalajara for more extensive treatment. Hospitals in Guadalajara are some of the best in the world. Both private and government-sponsored insurance plans are available. Most doctors at Lakeside speak English and many still make house calls. They are well-trained, professional, caring individuals.
Q: Do I need to speak Spanish?
A: The more Spanish you learn, the better your experience will be living at Lake Chapala. That said, there are folks who have lived here for 40 years who know little more than gracias, buenos días, and cuánto cuesta. They get by because most of the Mexicans who provide products and services to the gringo community have learned the words of their trade in English. There are several venues available here for learning Spanish—from private and group lessons to computer and audio lessons. And, as one interviewee mentioned, experts say learning a new language is one of the best exercises to keep your brain young.